Eph 6:21-24 “LOVE INCORRUPTIBLE”
Intro: Story of Bible memory from youth camp (Job 6:1); tempting to view this passage as insignificant
-There is often gold and theological treasures in passages of Scriptures we tend to overlook
-Today’s passage shows this true: it has something to teach us about God and authentic Christianity.
**The Christian life is lived in loving relationships, under the loving care of God, as we love Jesus with an incorruptible love.
1 The Christian Life is lived in LOVING relationships (21-22)
Here is the end of the Letter and Paul tells us about how he is sending Tychicus to them
–Question: how is this relevant to us today? Answer: glimpse of Paul’s love and care for the Ephesians.
-This is a model for us: Here is authentic Christianity lived out in loving relationships with others.
-Paul is sending Tychicus
–TYCHICUS: was the letter carrier for Paul (does this elsewhere) and may possibly be from Ephesus
–Trustworthy: “beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord”
–PURPOSE: 1 INFORM; 2 ENCOURAGE
1 Inform: “may know how I am…tell you everything…may know how we are.”
-Ephesians were concerned for Paul and wanted to hear how he was doing.
–NOTICE: Relational nature of Christianity—not isolated, but in relationships.
2 Encourage: may encourage your hearts.
-Tychicus would preach/minister to the Ephesians and encourage them.
-As Christians, we need A LOT of encouragement.
–QUESTION: Who can you encourage in the faith this week?
-SEE THE LOVE OF PAUL FOR THE EPHESIAN CHRISTIANS.
-Paul is like Jesus here: thoughtful and considerate.
-Paul loved the Ephesian Christians, is a model for us as we seek to love one another.
*STOTT: “Prayer, correspondence and visits are still three major means by which Christians and churches can enrich one another and so contribute to the building up of the body of Christ.”
APP: Let us love one another, and learn from what we see here in Ephesians.
1. There is no place for lone-ranger, isolated Christianity.
-To isolate oneself is selfish and self-destructive.
-Be involved in your CG; Consider meeting in discipleship group with 1-2 others
-Seek to know each other and be willing to share your own heart with others.
2. The Christian life is meant to be one of self-giving love for others
-In the gospel we were saved from our selfishness, so that we might love selflessly.
-Take intentional steps to show a selfless love with money, time, resources.
-Reject the culture and flesh’s selfish outlook and pour yourself out in love for others.
–ENCOURAGEMENT: A lot of this is already happening! Let’s do it more 🙂
3. God gives us different roles in the kingdom, but all are important (Paul, Tychicus, Ephesians)
-No 2nd class Christians in the Kingdom
-See yourself this way. See others this way.
- The Christian Life is Lived under God’s Loving Care (6:23-24)
The letter ends with Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians Christians that God would bless them in various ways.
-Here we see the conviction that God loves His people and will bless them in what they need.
-We also see a conviction about prayer: God hears and answers prayer.
-Prayer for PEACE: Peace be to the brothers,
-Jesus is the ‘prince of peace,’ and gives a real peace in the heart of Christians (Phil 4:6-7)
-LOVE w/FAITH: and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
-God loves us, and the prayer that we would feel and know that love (Eph 3:17-19)
-“with faith”=God supplies and strengthening our faith in Jesus
-GRACE: Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
-God granting GRACE to believers, so we can follow and love God.
*MARVEL: Isn’t God’s love and care for us amazing and wonderful?
-This is one of the great privileges of the gospel: brought under the loving care of Jesus.
APP: Make Paul’s prayer your prayer for self and others.
-Pray for PEACE, LOVE w/FAITH, GRACE.
3 The Christian life is one of Incorruptible love for Jesus (6:24b)
The final word of the whole letter: INCORRUPTIBLE.
Final sentence speaks about the believer’s incorruptible love for Jesus Christ
-This itself is a great privilege and gift that comes from the gospel.
-Love for Jesus= This distinguishes a Christian from non-Christian
OBJECTION: My love for Jesus does not seem or feel incorruptible. It is often weak or small.
–CONSIDER: MEANING OF INCORRUPTIBLE: 1 Cor 15:50-55
-Does not mean that our present love for Jesus will not have impurities.
-Paul has been teaching about love for Jesus in doctrine and teaching, so room to grow
-Does mean: Incorruptible love=love that never ends goes into eternity and never dies.
CONSIDER this CONTRAST:
-Love for Things of this world (die and are corruptible): Our money; accomplishments; nations; reputation
-Conversation with a retired man who was very successful (and made a lot of money)
-Eventually memory will fade and eventually the money will be spent
-LOVE FOR JESUS IS INCORRUPTIBLE: Goes on and one into eternity.
-When you die you will still love Jesus
-When you have a new body and live on the new Earth you will love Jesus
HOW DOES THIS CHANGE HOW WE LIVE?
1 If we have been saved to love Jesus forever, then we ought to set our hearts on Him now.
-Are there ways your heart has drifted away from loving Jesus?
-How might God be calling you to set your heart on Jesus again?
2 It is good stir up our love for Jesus
-Always filling your mind with screens and distractions with cool your love for Christ
-Read the Bible, pray, worship songs, service, fellowship
3 It is good to invite others to love Jesus
-We’re inviting them to a kind of love that will transform them and bring them joy
4 The foundation for our love to Jesus is found in the love Jesus’ first showed us (Rom 5:6-8)
**The Christian life is lived in loving relationships, under the loving care of God, as we love Jesus with an incorruptible love.
